Lois I. Melland

A Celebration of Life and lunch will be held on Sept. 15, 2024 from Noon to 4pm in Nekoma, N.D., at the Pain Reliever for Lois Melland, 96, of Fairdale, N.D., who passed away Aug. 17, 2024, in Omaha, Neb.

As L.O.I.S Melland would say…OOH, OOH BABY!!

Lois “Honey Babe” Melland was born July 3, 1928, on the farm near Nekoma, N.D., to Aanen and Clara Aanenson. At the age of 14 she started working on the family farm, cooking for farmhands, and picking potatoes. At 16, she met Iver Melland at the carnival in Edmore, N.D. They dated for four years until they were married in 1948. They lived in Fairdale where, alongside Iver, Lois helped farm the land, was active in the church ladies’ aid, gardened, cooked, baked, canned, and tended to chickens and pigs. In addition to farming, Iver had a blacksmith shop in Fairdale and worked as a welder for the missile sites. Lois gave birth to their daughter, Denise, in 1955 and son Gary in 1960. She continued working on the farm and raising her children. She also drove a school bus and cooked at the Fairdale School. In 1978 Iver passed away from injuries from a car accident. Lois and Gary continued to farm for a few years then cash rented out the land.

Lois kept busy with friends, cooking, baking, canning and mowing her lawn until she was 91. She shared all her lefse, buns and pies with her family and friends. She was a stranger to no one. She eventually moved into the Edmore Rest Home and then in 2020 moved to Omaha, Neb., to live with Denise and her husband. She enjoyed spending time with her entire family including kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a huge fan of many soap operas and enjoyed an occasional “screw up” (Screwdriver with 7-Up) with friends. She went into hospice Aug. 14, 2024, and passed away Aug. 17, 2024, with her family at her side.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Aanen and Clara Aanenson; husband Iver Melland; sisters: Janice Fedje, Ruby Schmidt, and June Beal; brothers: Hubert Ellis and Donald Ellis. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Meyers (Jon) of Omaha; son Gary Melland (Tammy Brooks) of Devils Lake, N.D.; grandchildren: Sheila Brown (Clarence) of Omaha, Stacy Tonniges (Dave) of Omaha, Cody Melland of Grand Forks; step-grandchildren: James Meyers (Beth) of Omaha, Tamara Draeger (Jared) of Omaha, Shaina Meyers (Ryan Pope) of Kansas City, Missouri; great-grandchildren: Keyson Brown (Malorie) of Omaha, Alece Swanger of Omaha, Tori and Jackson Tonniges of Omaha; step-great grandchildren: Jacob, Benjamin and Raya Meyers of Omaha, and Stockton, Macklin, and Darien Draeger of Omaha.

Memorials to can be made to Fairdale Park Fund, c/o Grace Kuchar, Fairdale, ND 58229 or Silvesta Cemetery Fund, c/o Ed Lorass, Fairdale, ND 58229.